Handa akarenga｜A Meiji-Era Legacy of Fermentation, Architecture, and Craft Beer

From the Fertile Chita Peninsula to Early Bottled Beer

Located on the bountiful Chita Peninsula in Aichi Prefecture, the region has long thrived on a rich culture of fermentation—producing miso, vinegar, sake, and more. Thanks to its fertile soil, these products were not only consumed locally but also shipped as far as Edo (Tokyo) via traditional merchant boats.

In 1889, building on this tradition, Matzaemon Nakano (of Nakano Vinegar) and Zenpei Morita (future founder of Shikishima Bread) released over 3,000 bottles of “Marusan Beer” from Handa. This marked the region’s entry into modern beer brewing, combining local fermentation know-how with German technical influence.

Birth of Kabuto Beer and an Industrial Marvel

By 1898, these entrepreneurs gathered significant funds and constructed what is now known as Handa akarenga—a facility equipped with the latest German brewing machinery and expertise. It was here that Marusan Beer was rebranded as Kabuto Beer, setting a new standard in Japanese brewing.

The building is one of the largest surviving brick structures from the Meiji era in Japan, and among the very few remaining beer brewery facilities of its time. It stands today as a rare and valuable industrial heritage site, admired for its commanding brickwork and historical importance.

Culture and Learning Under One Roof

Inside, permanent exhibits narrate the early history of beer in Japan, while rotating special exhibitions explore local culture and innovation. It’s a space where visitors can engage with both history and craft.

Please note: Photography is not permitted in the permanent exhibition area.
Outside food and beverages are not allowed.

Tasting the Past: Kabuto Beer Today

Visitors can enjoy chilled bottles of the revived Kabuto Beer at the on-site café or take some home from the gift shop. In addition, visitors traveling on tour buses can enjoy cold beer right on the bus.

For group visitors, cold bottles are also popular as part of onboard refreshments for tour buses—allowing a refreshing sip of Meiji heritage on the move.

Cultivating Stories, Past and Present

Handa akarenga is more than just a historic site—it is a place where industry, culture, and community once converged, and where new stories are now taking root.

We invite you to discover, taste, and be enriched by the legacy of Kabuto Beer and the world that shaped it.